Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

It looks like Amey are not waiting for the arrival of the High Output train before starting work on this section of the line.

That's because the time to get the "test section" built is tight, the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will be run at line speed between Didcot and Tilhurst as part of the shake down of the trains

[DidcotPunter]

That's because the time to get the "test section" built is tight, the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)'s will be run at line speed between Didcot and Tilhurst as part of the shake down of the trains

That's interesting - anyone know when the first IEP is due in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) for testing?  I would presume that any shake-down running on this section would need to be at night as both main and relief lines are pretty busy during the day.

I can't see electrification work west of Didcot starting before the end of 2014 as they won't have completed the bridge rebuilds before then and completion north of Didcot is dependent on the upgrade work at Oxford station.

[ChrisB]

I thought the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) are going straight to the ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) for testing?

[anthony215]

I will have a read through later but I am sure there is something about this in the August issue of Modern Railways.

Hitachi were supposed to build at least one pre-production unit in japan before shipping it to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) sometime in 2015.

"Correction"

There is a feature on page 17 of the November 2013 issue of Todays Railways UK about GBRF winning the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) testing contract which states that the pre-series IEP's will be shipped to the UK for testing which will commence in March 2015. From this I think these 1st units should be in the UK by December 2014/January 2015.

[DidcotPunter]

First part of High Output Plant train arrived yesterday in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) from Windhoff in Germany.

Pictures of it passing through Market Harborough en route from the Channel Tunnel to the High Marnham test track.

http://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains2013-1/November-2013/i-cGXVQgJ/A
http://mark5812.smugmug.com/Trains2013-1/November-2013/i-VN8tkjb/A

I think this consist includes the piling rig.  Clearly there is more to come.

[TonyK]

Well spotted, DidcotPunter! I've been waiting for a glimpse. If that is five units in the pictures, there are still 18 to deliver. The two vehicles to the rear of the train appear to be almost identical. The third looks like the one that holds the pile vertical. I believe the white shields are used to allow working next to a live line. Any insider info here?

[paul7575]

Well spotted, DidcotPunter! I've been waiting for a glimpse. If that is five units in the pictures, there are still 18 to deliver. The two vehicles to the rear of the train appear to be almost identical. The third looks like the one that holds the pile vertical. I believe the white shields are used to allow working next to a live line. Any insider info here?

That's how NR^» (Network Rail - home page) describe the shields: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Gallery/The-steel-safety-39-wall-39-on-the-HOPS-to-allow-adjacent-line-working-at-speed-1bf2.aspx

There are a number of descriptions knocking about of the functions of different modules, but one thing I've gleaned is that certain modules can split again on site, so the lead section, referred to as 'the' piling module, is two (or three) sets of equipment that can run independently.  So I wonder if the best idea is to think of it as having five functional tasks, but there'll be more than five separate sections when in operation.

The NR Electrification RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) of 2009 has a fairly detailed explanation (in its Appendix 2) of what they intended it to look like when ordered, obviously it may be slightly different by now but it gives a good idea including artists impressions.   The press release containing the picture I linked to above also describes the five functional areas of the train:

- A piling rig, with two MPVs with Movax vibro piling heads, which literally vibrate the steel piles into the soil, 2 pile carrying wagons, and finally a Fambo hydraulic percussion hammer MPV for tougher ground.

- An excavation and concrete batching consist. This will feature an Hitachi excavator plus a Kniele concrete unit which will mix concrete from onboard aggregate, cement and water tanks.

- A structures consist, which will erect the Series One masts, portal booms and twin track cantilevers. It is intended to carry 30 masts for erection, per night.

- Ancillary conductor consist, which will install the earthing wires, return wires and small parts such as registration arms and other equipment.

- The contact and catenary consist, which will string up the remaining wires, under tension. Another unit install other articles such as contenary wires under low bridges, neutral sections and record information such as height and stagger.

Each consist will include two MPVs with full driving cabs, powered by MTU^▸ (Motor Traction Unit) power packs, which can be driven at 60mph off-site. On site driving cabs will allow the train to be driven very slowly in possessions, such as when installing contact
wire.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Groundbreaking-factory-train-to-cut-years-off-Great-Western-electrification-1e0d.aspx

Note for instance how the explanation of the first 'consist' of the five includes 3 MPVs.

Paul

[bobm]

Saw this at Swindon today - looks to be part of the High Output Plant system (HOPS) train - all shiny and new.





Couldn't see too much of the rest of the train as the "safety guards" were on my side of it.

[JayMac]

That looks like the 'Excavation and Concrete Batching' section of the HOPS train:

http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/new-factory-train-will-slash-gwml-electrification-schedule

[Red Squirrel]

Swindon is the High Output Operating Base, or HOOB. From my research (I'm not a professional railwayman but I'm usually pretty good with Google) I believe it will look something like this:

[Lee]

They're smart, they're fun, they know!

[bobm]

That looks like the 'Excavation and Concrete Batching' section of the HOPS train:

http://www.railexpress.co.uk/news/new-factory-train-will-slash-gwml-electrification-schedule

Thanks - yes that looks to be the one.  I was told it was going for a run from the depot, into Swindon to change ends, then off to go around the Didcot triangle to turn it.

[JayMac]

Swindon is the High Output Operating Base, or HOOB. From my research (I'm not a professional railwayman but I'm usually pretty good with Google) I believe it will look something like this:

Post of the week! If I could award a prize, you'd get it Tufty. 

♪HOOB HOOB hooray! The HOOBmobile is coming your way♫.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdm0KUbEo4o

And worth adding. I laughed when seeing Red Squirrel's post. I laughed hard. Damn near coughed up a lung.

[Red Squirrel]

Well now you've gone and encouraged me: I just can't wait for the day when one of these rolls over the new Stapleton Rd viaduct:

[Lee]

First electric services from London to Bristol Parkway should be running by 2018, with electric services to Temple Meads the following year according to Chris Aldridge of Network Rail - http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Electric-trains-London-Bristol-running-Great/story-20785715-detail/story.html